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Cross cutting Plywood
Cross cutting with a power saw is bound to produce some tear-out. This can be reduced by putting a strip of masking tape along with line of the cut.

Secrets to Spraying Lacquer
Sometime after spraying lacquer or polyurethane there will be a very fine over-spray on the surface. I have discovered that using a crumpled up piece of brown paper sack works as a very fine sandpaper that removes the over-spray and leaves a really slick surface.

Better and Safer Way
I would like to say that I have some better, and safer, ideas for cleaning blades and bits. Oven cleaner was the product of choice for me, too, for a long time, when it came to removing the pitch from saw blades and router bits. However these products are usually very caustic, and extreme caution must be excersized when using oven cleaners indoors or out. I now use a product called "SIMPLE GREEN" that I found in the automotive dept. at WalMart. It is a water based formula and can be diluted for a number of cleaning chores, it won't take the paint off your lawn mower or kill the grass, but WILL degrease the motor and even remove the grass stains. It is slower at cutting the pitch on saw blades etc. but I lay the blades in the kitchen sink, spray them down with Simple Green, full strength, allow the product to work for a few minutes, and brush with a stiff nylon brush and rinse with hot tap water. There is a smell, but no toxic fumes, and it won't harm me or the countertop if I get a little messy. Also a word on gloves for staining and painting. I have found NITRILE gloves are more chemical resistant and tougher than Latex, are safe for people who are sensitive to latex to use, and while initial cost is a = little higher than a box of latex, they will outlast latex considerably in shop use making them more economical to use. They are not "one size fits all", however, as they don't stretch like latex and must be purchased in your hand size. They are much thinner than the gloves used for household chores and provide a much better sense of feel. Thanks for listening, and keep up the good work.

More to come in the future...

Video Game Cabinet
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Child's Computer Desk & Chair
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Rubber Ban Machine Gun
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